5 Strategies for Helping Your Staff Feel Safe and Secure
Studies repeatedly demonstrate that employees with good mental and emotional well-being work more productively and deliver outcomes than those without.
In the past, it was assumed that a staff member’s well-being was tied to their personal habits. But more and more, it’s becoming evident that the workplace also plays a critical role. Employees who feel safe and secure at work are more likely to work better, stay in their roles, and recommend the company to other professionals in their network.
All in all, there’s a lot of good that can come from making sure your staff feel safe and secure while at work. But it’s also important to remember that a safe, comfortable feeling won’t automatically happen on its own. Even if management is friendly, welcoming, and positive, there are a lot of other factors that can impact an employee’s comfort levels.
Open Communication Channels
As we said above, management could be great, but that doesn’t mean that employees will automatically feel safe and comfortable. Other staff members, workloads, and other workplace elements can impact an employee’s sense of belonging. There’s no foolproof way to know what an employee is thinking or feeling, but you can make it easier for them to share. Creating an environment of open communication — essentially letting employees know that they can always go to management with issues — can both provide an outlet for struggling team members and give confidence to others that they’ll have somewhere to turn if they do encounter any difficulties.
Safety Training
Knowing what to do in an emergency can make a huge difference to an employee’s sense of safety. But providing safety training is about more than demonstrating what staff members should do if something goes wrong. The broader implication is that the business genuinely cares about keeping employees safe, and that alone can give comfort and confidence.
Managing External Threats
Most businesses focus on internal safety threats, but they can also come from external sources. Providing visual deterrents (such as CCTV cameras/sufficient lighting) and secure entry access points can provide a strong first line of defence. For higher-risk buildings or public-facing businesses, it can also be worthwhile to use a security company like Zed Security to provide static security guard services. Simply having a trained security professional on-site can provide reassurance to employees that they’ll be kept safe and secure.
Provide Wellness Stipends
Most of this article has so far focused on the threats posed within the workplace and how to address them. But it can also be worthwhile investing in an employee’s overall physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By providing your employees with a wellness stipend, you’ll be encouraging them to take a proactive approach to their well-being. That’ll increase the likelihood that they’re happier while at work — investing in wellness can boost mood — and reduce the chances of workplace issues. There are also business benefits to wellness stipends, too, since research suggests that they lead to fewer office sick days, improved office ambiance, and better productivity. They suit everyone.
Image source: Pixabay.
